Rotor for an axial flux machine, method for producing a rotor for an axial flux machine and axial flux machine

Abstract

A rotor ( 1 ) for an electrical axial flux machine ( 2 ) that can be operated as a motor and/or generator. The rotor includes a support ( 3 ), a plurality of magnet elements ( 4 ) arranged against, on, or in the support ( 3 ) and running radially from the interior outwards, the magnet elements ( 4 ) being magnetized in a circumferential direction and being arranged individually or in groups in series around the circumference with alternating opposing magnetization directions, and a plurality of flux conduction elements ( 5 ) which conduct the magnetic flux and are arranged against, on, or in the support ( 3 ) and around the circumference, between the magnet elements ( 4 ). A flux distributing element ( 6 ) which distributes the magnetic flux is arranged between at least one of the magnet elements ( 4 ) and a flux conduction element ( 5 ) that is arranged adjacently thereto in the circumferential direction.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A rotor for an electrical axial flux machine that is operable as at least one of a motor or generator, said rotor comprising:
 a support; 
 a plurality of magnet elements arranged against, on, or in the support and running substantially radially from an interior of the support outwards, the magnet elements being magnetized in a circumferential direction and being arranged individually or in groups in series around a circumference of the support with alternating opposing magnetization directions; 
 a plurality of flux conduction elements which conduct magnetic flux and are arranged against, on, or in the support and around the circumference, between the magnet elements; and 
 a flux distributing element which distributes the magnetic flux with soft magnetic composite material is arranged between at least one of the magnet elements and one said flux conduction element that is arranged adjacently thereto in the circumferential direction; 
 wherein the flux distributing element has a triangular cross-section as seen in a sectional plane perpendicular to a rotor rotation axis, the triangular cross-section rests with a base side thereof against an adjacent one of the magnet element, and is in contact with adjacently arranged ones of the flux conduction elements with two remaining leg sides of the triangular cross-section. 
 
     
     
       2. The rotor according to  claim 1 , wherein the flux distributing element has a same axial depth over an entire radial extent. 
     
     
       3. The rotor according to  claim 1 , wherein the flux distributing element is formed of soft magnetic composite material or of ferrite material. 
     
     
       4. The rotor according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the flux conduction elements is formed of laminated sheets. 
     
     
       5. The rotor according to  claim 1 , wherein the magnet elements comprise permanent magnets and are formed from a plurality of individual magnets electrically insulated from one another. 
     
     
       6. The rotor according to  claim 1 , wherein the support has an annular support hub, an annular support disc and a support outer ring delimiting the support radially outwardly, and an annular pot-shaped receiving region with a pot base formed by the support disc is formed between the support hub and the support outer ring for receiving the magnet elements, the flux conduction elements and the flux distributing element. 
     
     
       7. The rotor according to  claim 6 , wherein the support hub has a polygonal cross-sectional shape on a radial outer ring thereof. 
     
     
       8. A method for producing a rotor for an electrical axial flux machine that is operable as at least one of a motor or generator, comprising the following method steps:
 providing a support; 
 providing magnet elements and introducing the magnet elements against, on, or in the support; 
 providing flux conduction elements and introducing the flux conduction elements against, on, or in the support; and 
 providing flux distributing elements and introducing the flux distributing elements against, on, or in the support; 
 wherein the flux distributing elements have a triangular cross-section as seen in a sectional plane perpendicular to a rotor rotation axis, the triangular cross-section rests with a base side thereof against an adjacent one of the magnet element, and is in contact with adjacently arranged ones of the flux conduction elements with two remaining leg sides of the triangular cross-section. 
 
     
     
       9. An axial flux machine, comprising: a stator and the rotor according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       10. The rotor according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one of the flux conduction elements is formed of laminated sheets is formed from electrical sheet, and has a same axial depth over an entire radial extent. 
     
     
       11. The rotor according to  claim 5 , wherein the individual magnets have a same axial depth over an entire radial extent. 
     
     
       12. The rotor according to  claim 6 , wherein the support outer ring has a polygonal cross-sectional shape on a radial inner ring surface thereof. 
     
     
       13. A rotor for an electrical axial flux machine that is operable as at least one of a motor or generator, said rotor comprising:
 a support; 
 a plurality of magnet elements arranged against, on, or in the support and running substantially radially from an interior of the support outwards, the magnet elements being magnetized in a circumferential direction and being arranged individually or in groups in series around a circumference of the support with alternating opposing magnetization directions; 
 a plurality of flux conduction elements which conduct magnetic flux and are arranged against, on, or in the support and around the circumference, between the magnet elements; and 
 a plurality of flux distributing elements which distribute the magnetic flux with soft magnetic composite material, wherein one of the plurality of flux distributing elements is arranged between at least one of the magnet elements and one said flux conduction element and arranged adjacently thereto in the circumferential direction; 
 wherein each said flux distributing element has a triangular cross-section as seen in a sectional plane perpendicular to a rotor rotation axis, each said triangular cross-section rests with a short base side thereof against a support outer ring of the support, and rests with one remaining leg side thereof against one of the magnet elements and rests with an other remaining leg side thereof against an adjacently arranged one of the flux conduction elements.